(Adapted from Joanne Fluke’s “Strawberry Shortcake Murder,” Pg. 186-187)

1 1/2 cups melted butter

2 cups cocoa powder

2 cups brown sugar

3 large eggs, beaten

4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups flour

1/2 cup white sugar (in a small bowl for later use)

Mix cocoa in butter until  thoroughly blended. Add brown sugar. Let it cool before mixing in eggs. Stir in baking soda, salt, and vanilla. Mix in flour thoroughly. Chill dough at least 1 hour.

Roll dough into walnut sized balls with your hands. (Roll only those you plan to bake immediately. Return remaining dough to the refrigerator.) Roll the dough balls in bowl of white sugar. Place 12 on a greased cookie sheet. Flatten with a spatula.

Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes. Cool on the cookie sheet for a minute or two and then remove them to a wire rack to finish cooling. (If you leave them on the cookie sheets for too long, they’ll stick.)